
_ . y\ '-^ws /%. \^-' ^*'"-^. 




RESOLUTIONS I 

PASSED BY ALAMO ENCAMPMENT S, S. 



AND 



EtJLOaY 



LIFE AND CHARACTER 



OF 



HON. JOHN A. WII.COX, 

» PRONOUNCED BY 

HON. C. UP80N, 

AT SAN ANTONIO. MARCH laTH, 1864. 



PRINTKD AT THE RKQUBST OF FRIENDS OF THE DECEASED, AND BT AUTHORITY OF THE 

ENCAMPMENT . 



SAN ANTONIO : 

PRINTED IN THE HERALD OFFICE, 

1864. 






^ '^^^^ RESOLUTION:: 



E*-a8s<<c<cl by Alamo Kiicampnuiiit ol tlie "Sons of the .SoulJi,'" itpon 
tHc recepti<»«i of llic intelligence of t*i« deatli of jroK»i A. "WILCOX* 



Whereas, we nave received the sad Intel ligfUiH of tiie sudden and 
lamentable death of the Kon. John A. Wilcox, one of the founders, and the 
first Captain of this Encampment; and as an expression of our high estima- 
tion of his •eminent worth and distinguished virtues, jis a man, a citizen, a 
soldier, and a statesman-; as an evidence of his true ;tnd faithful exemplifica- 
tion of the principles of this Order, in the dev(7tiou of his ^'fortune, his life, 
■and sacred honor to the came of the ^uth;" as a manifestation of our heartfelt 
regret for his loss to the country in the darkest hour of her adversity, while 
in the vigor of his manhood and in the meridian of his usefulness ; as a , 
token of our deep sympathy with his bereaved and grief-stricken family , 
and sorrowing; kindred and friends; and as a tribute of respect to his life, 
character and sacred memoiy : 

Be it rewlved, That while we bow to the stern decrees of an overruling Pro- 
vidence, we deeply mourn the death of the Hon. John A. Wilcox, as the loss 
of a true, zealous, devoted and eminent "Son of the South :" 

Resolved, Ihat we cheerfully attest to his uprightness, honesty of purpose 
«,nd independence, distinguished abilities and efficiency as a Statesman; that 
as a citizen iie was of exemplary honor, integrity and usefulness, — as a man 
of the noblest impulses— kind, geneious and magnanimous to a fault— pre- 
eminent as a social companion— as a friend earne.'^t, unyielding an<i faithful — 
by nature and education a gentleman and as a patriot pure, frank, and un- 
compromising in his principles, and unsrirpassed in his devotion to the great 
«truggle in which we are now involved for the independence of our beloved 
"Confederacy ; 

Besdlved, That we deeply sympathize and condole wit!i the affiicted family 
of the deceased in the a-ppalling mit^fortune whiiii has so suddenly befallen 
them; and while their bitter bereavement is irreparable, may they gather 
consolation in a remembrance of his marked virtues, noble life and exemp- 
lary character— the proudest and richest legacy lie could leave them, and 
that he was taken from them after an eventful career of distiugu'shed use- 
fulness, while standing high in the affections of his countrymen, without a 
spot upon his fair name : 

liesolved, Ihat the members of this Encam}>ment wear the usual badge of 
mourning on the left ann, for thirty days, as a testimonial of our grief for 
the death of the deceased. 

Eesolved, That a copy of these uroluiions 1 e i'urni^hed Hie f; inily of the 
deceased and that they be pnbli.'hcd in the "City papers. 



3 



[EULOGY 



While, ill obedience to the uiichang-ing laws of seasons, all 
nature, locked iu the cold embrace of winter, silently reposed, — 
as the storm of battle had but just passed, disclosing- a momen- 
tary and undisturbed view of its mangled victims and the 
blackened ruin of desolated homes, — and the uncontrolable ele- 
ments, for a time, stayed the mad clash of arms and held in check 
the demon of war in his work of carnage, — the solemn and 
ominous tranquillity which rested upon the country was sud- 
denly disturbed, the public mind painfully afflicted, and this 
community deeply appalled, at the unexpected death of John A. 
Wilcox, 

It needed but the simple announcement of that melancholy 
fact, to apprise the whole country, and most especially this com- 
munity, the home of the deceased, of the great loss sustained by 
the death of that distinguished man. 

Few men ever lived who had more personal acquaintances, or 
were more generally known than Col. Wilcox. In a large por- 
tion of Ihe country his name was familiar in eveiy house. Every 
class and grade of society knew him; those removed from the 
ordinary walks of life, — the decrepit and infirm, the bashful 
school girl, the thoughtless boy upon the streets, and the help- 
less child in its mother's arms knew him ; and all who knew 
him are instinctively drawn around his tomb, as common mourners 
to weep over his untimely death and do ready homage to his cher- 
ished memory. 

But as his fellow-citizens, neighbors and daily associates, in 
the ordinary scenes of life, and as his intimate friends and broth- 
ers iu the great conflict for the independence of our country, we 
have met to pay a just tribute of respect to the memory of the 
deceased, and to attest our high appreciation of his great worth 
and eminent virtues, and the deep sorrow we feel for his loss to 



.;> as iiidivi'lnnlsaiKl ;x roinnumity, and to tjjo whole Confederacj 
l>y a public commemoration of liis life and character. 

If wo come here simply to pass through the ordinary, cold, 
and common place, forms of regard to the dead, we dishonor 
ourselves and do injustice to the noble spirit whose departure 
we would lament, and whose life of usefulness and prominent 
virtues we would celel^ratc.. 

Col. AViLCox was no ordinary man, and merits no mean praise. 
His strong native abilities, ai-dent and impulsive nature, with 
some of the most marked and atti-active traits of character, gave 
him a prominent individuality, and raised him far above the com- 
mon level, which, together with a checkered and an eventful pub- 
lic career for nearly a quarter of a century, renders his life of 
peculiar interest and worthy of careful study. 

I first became acquainted with Col. Wilcox in the fall of 1854; 
up to the latter part of the year 1858 our acquaintance was but 
partial; after that time it grew into a most intimate and friendly^ 
and of a confidential character, and so continued, uninterrupted, to 
the time of his death. And I express but the sincere feelings of 
mj^ heart, when I say, that in his death I feel that I have lost a 
''near and a dear friend P 

Much of my knowledge of the life and character of Col Wil- 
cox, previous to the year 1854, has been derived from his friends 
and acquaintances, though it has been chiefly gained from his 
own lips — now forever sealed in death — and from the public histo- 
ry of the country, of which it forms no insignificant part. 

Col. John A. Wilcox was boin at Snow Hill, in the State of 
North Carolina, on the 28th of April, 1820, about the time of the 
})assage of the Missouri Compromise Bill. 

Whether the hand of Omnipotence indelibly impressed his in- 
fant mind with the spirit of the times, which then saved the 
country from ruin, or whether he imbibed it from his early educa- 
tion, it is a significant fact, that the spirit of compromise was a 
leadin.'^: trait of his character in all his transactions of life. 



He descended from lui Lonost, worthy and patriotic ancestry. 
At tlie time of his birtli, his father was a merchant in easy and 
afiluent circumstances, and ever maintained an honorable and in- 
iluential position in society. 

In his eaily infancy his parents removed to Tennessee and settled 
at Randolph, where reverses and poverty overtook them, and soou 
followed the death of his father, leaving his widowed mother 
without friends or fortune, in a strange and unsettled country, 
%vith a large and Iielpless family dependent on her for support. 
His mother is said to have been a woman of great force of mind 
and energy of character, and nothing daunted by the trials and 
troubles that beset her, managed to support her family and rear 
her ofispring in the ways of honor and usefulness. 

While but a lad, Jack, as he was commonly called, (and which 
familiar name he retained through life, often using it himself,) 
obtained a situation in a store as clerk, and contributed his 
childish earnings t3 the support of his mother's family. 

He had but few advantages of an early education, and as he 
often said, using his own language, "the only school I ever 
"attended was the school of misfortune and my mother's lips, the 
"books that taught me the precepts of duty and the lessona of 
"wisdom." Not until he was fast approaching the years of man- 
hood did he begin to apply his mind to the study of books, and 
to lay the foundation of that knowledge which made him so use- 
ful in after years. When about seventeen years of age, and still 
in doubt as to his future course, his town was thrown into great 
excitement by an importaiit murder case, then on trial before the 
Court. Excited by a strong curiosity, the ardent and inquiring 
boy attended the Court throughout the trial; and, as it progress- 
ed, his mind became so much absorbed in the case, he said that 
he could not sleep, often imagining what he would do, if he were 
the lawyer defending the prisoner at the bar. That incident de- 
termined the pursuit of his life. He commenced the study of 
lav7 hy himself. Obtaining a copy of Blackstone, day and 
night saw him anxiously poring over that vast treasure of lega^ 



6 

love. jlis naturally bright and ucLiA^e inl])il an.] zoaK-ns nalnre., 
giving unmistakable evidences of no ordinary promise, and his 
assiduity in the study of his chosen profession soon attracted tlie 
attention of Col. Christopli Williams, who invited him to read law 
in his office, and assisted in fitting him for the practice and in 
his early eiforts at the bar. As a lawyer Col. Wilcox occupied 
a high and an honorable position, and became eminent and wide- 
ly known as an able and successful Criiniiuil Tjawyer. His 
iStirring eloquence, vivid imagination, warm and enthusiastic 
heart, and zealous devotion to the interests of his client, how- 
ever desperate, seemed better to fii him for, and caused him mucli 
to prefer, that branch of the practice. The cold logic, nice dis- 
tinctions and technicalities of the civil practice gave him an aver- 
sion to it, Avhicli, he said, he could nevei overcome. 

As he delighted in the study of Iniman-nature, wliich he had 
made the subjeci of profound thought, and possessing gteat 
knowledge of men, knowing well their weaknesses and prejudices, 
and strongly believing in the power, or magnetic iniluence of 
mind over mind, whicli he was conscious of possessing in a high 
degree, while he did not neglect liis elTorts to convince the judg- 
ments, his great force and strojigih was in In's appeals to the 
hearts and sympathies of men. How well he had learned his 
lesson in the study of the human heart is evidenced by years of 
success in Jury trials, and in his commanding influence over his 
fellow-men, whether in the ordinary business affairs of life, or in 
assemblies met to consider questions of great public interest. 

So much remains to be said of the deceased, time will not per- 
mit a more extended review of liis interesting and instructive 
career as a lawyer; suffice it to say, that his death will be keenl}- 
felt and deeply lamented by Courts and Juries, by Attorneys and 
suitors, and most especially by unfortunate prisoners at the bar, 
who, by his eloquence and kind counsels, have been so often 
shielded from ihe rigorous penalties of the law. 

The public career of Col. Wilcox is of more general interest, 
and is prominently identified with, and forms an important part 



in llie hisiory v'f llic country, iliuiigh it may not fully develop 
>ioiiic ol' the nobler and more beautiful traits uf hi.s remarkable 
ebaraeter. 

At a very early period, "svlien but a bo}', he es[ioused the eause 
of the Democratic Party, and iirmly adhered to its principles, as 
he understood them, until his death 

In a speech made in the old Congress, in 1852. he said; "I am 
"a Democrat of the strictest sect; that I am so from principle, and 
*'have been so long that my memory fails me in the time I iirst 
"espoused the faith of Democracy." 

Again he said in the same Congress : ''The first lessons of De- 
''mocracy that I ever learned were from the late lamented James 
''K. Polk of Tennessee; and the first political speech I ever de- 
''livered in my life, when a bo}^ was written by that immortal 
"statesman." 

When in 1839 Jas. K. Polk was canvassing the State of Ten- 
nessee, for Governor, Col. Wilcox, though but nineteen, was se- 
lected to receive him with a public speech, and he acquitted him- 
self so well, that Mr.Polk invited him to accompany him in can- 
vassing the State. The aspiring young politician gladly ac- 
cepted ; and to that fact he often adverted as his first initiation 
into political life. 

As the excitement of political strife suited his youthful vira- 
city and ambition, and opened an ample field for his love of dec- 
lamation and the development of his gifted eloquence, and being 
so early brought under the teachings of that wise and profound 
Statesman and most skdlful and successful party leader , he 
soon gained that familiar knowledge of the political questions of 
the day, and the secret management and open workings'of politi- 
cal parties, as fitted and destined him to take an early and an 
active part in the public councils of the country. 

Col. Wilcox was well versed in the science of our Govern- 
ment, and had made it a* subject of serious and profound study. 
In his investigation of principles he did not stop with the history 
of the timet and the writings of modern Statesmen and political 



8 \ 

Economists; as he said, he traced his prijiciplcs of Democracy to 
the Bible. There are some here who well remember the interest* 
ing lecture he delivered before the Saif Antonio Literaiy Associ- 
ation a few years since, wherein he contended that the Prophet, 
Moses, was the Father of Democracy. 

Shortly after making the tour of the State with Mr. Polk, about 
1840, he removed with his mother and family to Aberdeen, Miss., 
as he said in Congress, *'to seek out an honest livelihood;" and 
^'shortly after having been in that State (using his owji language) 
*'I took the stump as a speaker of the Democratic party, and la- 
thered arduously in the campaign of 1844, and afterwards in 
*'1848." 

In his new home his promising talents and constant applica- 
tion soon gained him a distinguished position at the bar and as 
a public speaker, and his uniformly courteous and manly bearing, 
great worth and many noble virtues, won him a wide circle of 
friends whose affection and esteem time and absence did not 
change and death cannot extinguish. An appreciating public 
did not hesitate to confer upon him places of trust and honor. 

He was twice elected and served as Clerk of the Senate of 
Mississippi, and was also elected as a Brig. General of Militia 
und a member of the Legislature. 

When hostilities broke out between the United States and 
Mexico, following the patriotic impulses of his nature, he enlisted 
as a private in Col. Clark's Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers, 
and, after the close of the war, returned home in command of the 
Regiment, having been elected its Colonel while in Mexico. 
Although hisRegiment, I believe, was in no regular engagement^ 
having l^een detaind for several months in New Orleans from an 
epidemic which raged among the troops, causing the death of a 
large number of them, and threatening their entire destruction, 
as well as from severe sickness in Mexico where many of them 
died, yet he showed those high soldierly qualities which caused 
his rapid promotion from the ranks, and for which he wjjs re- 
peatedly complimented 



By hit} uittiring dcvoliuii lo his troops in sickness and distress, 
^le won their lasting- gratitude and aftection, and exhibited that 
genuine tenderness and kindness of heart, wliich in him were 
distinguishing-, exalted, most beautiful and lovely virtues. 

Col. WiLCox possessed some of the highest (Qualities of a sol 
dier; he had the head, heart and nerve of a soldier, and knew well 
a soldier's duty. 

Could he have had his choice^ he would have gone to the fieldjin 
this struggle, at the first tap of the drum ; but, believiag hirnsalt 
designedly neglected by the appointing power, and feeling that 
from his position in society^ age, experience and past services^to 
the country, he was deserving of^ and a decent respect to himself 
required that he should receive, some notice, or request^ to go into 
the army, from the authorities^ he sought another field of useful- 
ness where he might faithfull}^ and efficiently serve his country. 

After returning from the Mexican war, and his State being di- 
vided into two parties upon the celebrated compromise measures, 
sometimes known as Mr Clay's Omnibus Bill, — those supporting 
the bill — styling- themselves "Unionists," and those opposed 
to it being- styled by its friends "Disunionists," while the 
opponents of the measures generally disclaimed the title of 
"Disunionists" or "Secessionists," and claimed to be States Right 
Democrats, or Whigs- — Col. Wilcox united with the friends, and 
became a zealous advocate of the measures. 

In 1850 he was nominated for Congress by the Union Demo- 
crats of his District in Mississippi^ and elected over CoL Feather- 
«tone by an overwhelming majority. He took the position be- 
fore the people that the compromise measures were just and ne- 
cessary for a settlement of the angry controversy wliich was fear- 
fully agitating the whole country and threatening a dismember- 
ment of the States. He contended that he was for Union and 
peace, against disunion and war. The Com])roniise Bill was pass- 
ed by Congress at the session previous to his taking his scat. 

In and out of Congress, he labon^d unceasingly and put forth the 
whole strength of hio mind and eneigiets to desLiuy the efforts ot 



10 

those whom ho believed were seekiiyg to break up the Union. 
Soon after entering Congress, in a speech referring' to the com- 
promise measures and the different parties in Mississippi, lie said; 
"that he was here as a Jackson, Union Democrat, as contra dis- 
"tinguished from a Secession, Disunion Democrat." * * 

"And declared the Democratic party to be the Constitutional 
"Union party. He denied the Constitutional right of any State 
to Secede; and in a subsequent speech contended that no such 
doctrine was contained in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions 
of 1798. 

Notwithstanding he believed that a Disunion party existed in 
the South, which he severely deprecated, yet, having full confi- 
dence in the patriotism and earnest devotion of the Southern 
people to the Constitution and the Union, as a solemn and pro- 
phetic warning, he said, "that if the time should ever come when 
"the Union should be dissolved, and when the starry flag of our 
"country should be tore asunder, this sin would lie at the door of 
"the gentlemen of the North. He hoped, then, they would cease 
"their fanatic interference with tlie institutions of the South, and, 
"from this moment, that all would forget the ills which camo 
"well-nigh sinking the ship of State." 

In justice to the honesty and consistency of the deceased, I 
must say that, as to the right of peaceable Secession, however 
much we maj^ have differed with him upon that ([uestion, in 
which I believe he was in error, he never changed his views. 

He clung to the old Union with a patriotic devotion, and a? ith 
all the tenacity of his ardent and impulsive nature, as long as 
there was a hope of preserving the Constitutional rights of the 
States, the great corner stone upon which it was founded. 

Bui, upon the election of Abraham Lincoln, when be saw the 
Old Government passing into the hands of a blind, bigoted, nn 
reasonable, and fanatical Abolition party, sworn to the destruc 
tion of the dearest rights of his section, and that Secession and 
the establishment of an independent Southern Confederacy was 
the 'only remedy to preserve his State and native South, and the 



u 

:Vrcat prIi)ci[)los of Constitntloiial lil^erty fmni IncvitaMr* rnin,'in 
all the graudeur of his noble nature he rose above prejudices 
and settled opinions of years standing; freely sacrificed his strong 
love and attachment for the old Union; and was among the very 
first to inaugurate and boldly advocate the cause of Secession. 

lie saw that longer argument and reason for the preser. 
vation of the rights of the States would be in vain; that the 
Old Union was but a deep yawning gulf of ruin for the South; 
and that her only safety was in speedy and permanent separa- 
tion. He said, "it matters not what name you give it, whether 
''Secession, Revolution, or Civil War, 'the first law of nature, 
"self-preservation,' demands that it should be done." 

Although Col. Wilcox served but one term in the old Congress, 
iie occupied an important position in that body; he was Chairman 
of the Committee on Militarj^ Affairs where he acquitted him- 
self with credit and rendered much valuable service to the coun- 
try. The young Statesman soon gave marked evidences of pro- 
mise and distinction. 

In 1852, still a member of Congress in Washington, he married 
Miss Mary E. Donelson, a daughter of Hon. Andrew Jackson 
DoNELso.v, of Tennessee, a gentleman of high public note and of 
considerable fortune; she was a lady of an accomplished educa- 
tion, of refinement, and of great force of character; a companion 
most wisely chosen to aid him in his future career and to bestow 
upon their ofis})ring a mothers care and a mothers blessings. 

Here, I stop to lift the somber veil of mourning and enter the 
family circle. 

Tread lightly; we walk on sacred ground ;the Angel of Death 
has been there ; in that once happ}-- home sorrow reigns ; a 
widowed motlior with two helpless childreit, too young to realize- 
tnisfortune or feel the pangs of grief, v)eeps ccione ; broken-heart- 
ed, and bowed down b}^ the ciushing weight of bitter anguish,, 
slic bends in mournful and solemn meditation over the noble 
imag-e of her departed companion. 

It was lierc, that the deceased exhibited the loveli(\st trail^j of 



12 

character He was a kiod master — a rareful, indulgent, fond 
andde\oted father - a tender, loving-, sympathizing, yielding and 
pleasant husband, and a watchful protector, — giving- comfort, joy 
and cheerfulness to the whole house-hold. 

The deceased and his surviving partner, as the heads of a 
family, by their uniform urbanity, modest though lofty bearing, 
exemplary kindness, liberality and active public spirit, and by 
their strict regard for truth, guarded language and delicate res- 
pect for the feelings and reputations of others, were bright orna- 
:ments, giving an elevated tone and character to society. No 
circle was too high or too humble, if respectable, for them to en- 
ter; their door was fieely opened and their hospitality lavished 
to all deserving; they extended the hand of courtesy and kind 
attention to the stranger, generously gave to the needy, and ad- 
ministered consolation to the affficted. 

Well may their example be emulated ! 

Again we pass to the public life of the deceased. In 1852 he 
was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention, which non^inated 
Mr. Pierce for President, and with the Uon. Steven A. Douglass 
canvassed the Northern States in support of the Democratic no- 
minees. 

Soon after, he again became a candidate for Co-agrcss, but, from 
some change in the political parties of Mississippi, was defeated 
by a very small majority, the only reverse, I believe, he ever met 
with as a candidate before the people; excepting as a Presiden- 
tal Elector on the ticket of Mr. Filmore in 1856. 

In 1854 Col. Wilcox removed with his family to Texas, and 
settled in San Antonio, as he said^ for weal or for woe, intending 
to make it his home for the balarce of his life. 

His career in Texas is so well known by those present, that it 
needs but a cursory review. 

Upon his arrival here, he entered at once into an active and 
lucrative practice of the law, and from his previonsly high reputa- 
tion, popular mannei's and talents, he soon took a prominent and 
commanding position at the bar. 



13 

Upon tlio org'anlzation of ilio Ainerienn, or "Know Nolliinpc" 
Party, he becaine one o^ its leading and nu»f>i ablo monilters; an(? 
in 1856 was one of the Khjciors for the State, on the ticket of 
FiLMORF, and DoNKi-soN; and he ever maintained tliat the ]>rinci})h'8 
of tlnit ])arly, as to foreigiu^ra, were correct, and that if lliey had 
been adopted and carried out at an early ))eriod of tlu» history of 
our conntry, we might have avoided, or at least put ofl'for many 
years, the unfortunate war now upoa us. And such too is now 
the opinion of many of the iirst men of the South, wdio wei-e moat 
bitterly opposed to the American Party, 

As I have previously stated, upon the election of Lincoln, Co). 
Wilcox was among the very first to inaugurate the cause of Se- 
cession in Western Texas. He entered into it with his whole 
mind, soul and eneigies, lie seemed to rise above himself, 
and show^cd a higher order of ability than at any previous period 
of his life. As tlio cause ])rogressed and new difficulties pre- 
sented themselves, he seemed to grow in greatness and useful- 
nesB. 

He was a deligate in the Convention of Texas which passed 
the Ordinance of Secession, and aftcn'wards elected and re-elect- 
ed as a member of tiie Confederate Congress from this District, 
which i)osition he occupied at the time of his death. 

As to the in'incijdes and general views of the deceased i-elative 
to the present w^ar and questions of public interest, I believe I 
w^as well conversant. 

He was a patriot in the highest sense. He not only possessed 
the two distinguishing qualities, which Demosthenes said belong- 
ed to the virtuous citizen: "a zeal for the honor and pre-eminence 
*'of the State in his official conduct; and on all occasions ami in 
"all transactions an aifection for his conntry ;" hut with him his 
country was next to his God, nnd on lier altar he held as a will- 
ing sacrifice "his fortune, his life and sacred honor." 

A child and disciple of Democracy, he w\as a firm believer ir> 
the Avisdom and practicabilty of the great principle of "Constitu- 
tional Liberty" as carried out in our system of Government. 



14 

'7"no :.'n:.';]is]i li})Gr;ilirit. ilovu Tooko. but oxpro.^.soii th(_' yonti- 
fnenls of his lieart: 

"Kqaul rights, e((vial laws, and blcsi^ingK sliall nonrisli ; 
"IV.aa!, justice, aiul ])lt'iity lu'ncct(>rvvav<! slial! llomisJi ; 
"() guanl them with joah)U!";y, ami s[)UT-n iVoia this luMir, 
"'I'Ikj bribe of conuption thcj iiicnacc of power : 
"And bt; this our (kicision whilst fretdoni sui vivos, 
"The day of its death sliall be the last of (jur lives." 

Wlulo the deceased had an abiding coiilideiice in the nlUmate 
Huccess of our struggle for independence and in the triinn})h of 
Republicanism, he often expressed many regrets and serious 
apprehension from the growing error, that this unfortunate war 
had befallen us from a failure of our system of Government. 

As the w^arning words of the deceased crowd in upon my mind 
and seem to impress their importance upon my heart, I cannot 
pass them without a reflection. 

It is a significant fact, that not only the advocates of absolut- 
ism and of limited monarchies, but niajiy of our uwn people are 
free to tell us that, tlie sole cause of or.r down-fall was the ab' 
surdity, consequent weakness, corrni)tion, and iailure of our sys- 
tem of Government. 

We cannot be too guarded ag"ainst,.or too prompt in dispelling 
this groundless error. As the struggle goes on assuming' more 
gigantic and fearful proportions, and bccoines more desperate 
and sanguinar}^; amid the painful uncertainty, confusion and va- 
rying fortunes of contending armies, let us not overlook the causes, 
which led to the separation and forced this unholy war upon us, 
lest in the hour of despondency or adversity we destroy the labor 
and' accumulated wisdom of ages in. the w^ork of governmental 
reform and abandon the noblest, wisest and most pliilantrophic 
Government ever conceived by man. While we confidently re- 
ly on the justness of our cause, the strong arms and brave hoarts^ 
of our gallant sons and tlie "God of battles," let ii'S keep frcsb 
in our memories and vividly before our minds the story of our 
wrongs, and the great interests and principles for which wo 
contend, that we may enscribe tliem ixpjn the pages- of impar- 
tial history, in vindication cf our cause, and transmit them to pos- 



15 

icr\\y, ;ia ilw noiilest work, the richest licritag'o and piuiidcwl 
git'l, of !i iV(?o and an independent people. 

While my review of the h'fe and cliaracter of tlie deceased 
may already seem too extended, I liave ,i;'iven, and the occasion 
will only permit, an in.iperfect sketch. Eveiy phase present;-^ 
new interests from which we ma}^ draw the lessons of instructioii 
and wisdom. 

To the sterlin^^ rirtiies of the deceased as a nrember of society 
and to his remarkable social qualities. 1 miist pay a passing tri- 
bute. 

To the cardinal virtnes, ''justice, and fortitude'', he added in 
the highest degree charity, good will and magnanimity. 

The divine benediction, "blessed arc the peace makers," he 
merited as much as any man lever knew. A\^ith him it was a 
precept which he delighted to follow througli life. 

While prompt to repel an intended injury or insult, he studi- 
ously avoided dilBculties, and was the first to forgive, or seek 
an amicable and an honorable adjustment. It was his constant 
care and study to keep peace and good feeling among* his fellow- 
jnen. Col. Wilcox, pre-eminent in his social qualities, excelled 
in the private circle. Naturally fond of society, of pleasing ad- 
<iress, communicative and confiding in disposition, of marked li- 
berality and kiiidness, exuberant in spirit, gifted with remark- 
able conversational powers, Avith an inexhaustable fund of humor 
an anecdotical ibustrations, he was a cheerful companion and the 
life of all around him. 

Whether we regard Col. Wilcox as a lawyer, a Statesman, a 
patriot, a soldier, a citizen, a companion,^ or a friend — he was a 
man of distinguished worth and eminent virtues, and his death 
is a private and a public calamity. 

Stricken down in the vigor of manhood and in the meridian of 
public usefulness, while his bleeding country was struggling for 
an existence, his death comes with unusual severity, and seems 
an untimely and undeserved affliction; yet we bow to the immut- 
able decree of an all wise Providence. 



16 

"He has gouo and we ixuiKi follow 
*'In the path where he has led. 
"Ah ! How short uiiiy be the warniiig 
"Ere we too are mourned as dead !" 

<Jaii I ask a nioinenls farther forbearance ? lu the name of the 
immortal .spirit of th<3 Jeparlcd whoso last emotion and prayer 
were for the Soutliern Confederacy, I can not refrain from a pass- 
ing word upon the wicked war now desolating our fair land. 
May the last words 1 heard fall from the lips of the deceasd sink 
deep into the heart of every son and daughter of the Confedera- 
cy. He said, **I have a presentiment that I shalf not survive 
"this controversy, but ice have onfi/ to he true to ourselves, and, as 
■'certain as there is a just God who controls the destinies of na- 
"tions our cause will be successful." 

''We have only to be true to ourselves !'' God forbid that we 
now should be faise, when we have staked all that we hold dear 
«nd sacred upon the issue. 

With the abandonment of our cause, submission, or defeat, 
alike, would follow all of the ignottiinious shame, outrage and 
oppression, of an enslaved and poverty-stricken-people. We 
would then have no privileges or rights of freemen, no peaceful 
and happy homes, — no country^ — doomed to suffer as the helpless 
and pitiful victims of a hated, merciless and blind Despotism. 
With all the rich treasure and precious blood expended, we have 
not yet paid half the price of liberty; it is a priceless boon, com- 
pared with which wealth is contemptible and human life val 
neless. 

Though adversities befall us, — the over anxious and faint- 
hearted trenif:)lft, and traitors take courage and exultingly gloat 
over the prospect of our subjugation and ruin, let us nerve our- 
selves for the worst; and though driven from the last strong- 
hold, and want, hunger, exilement, imprisonment and torture 
be our fate, determine to fight on; never doubting, never daunted, 
never yielding, until we have won our independence I It is said 
"God has given justice to men only at the price of battles." 
Then,— 

■^'Oa to the Held — our doom is sealed, 
"To conquer or be slaves ; 
"This sun shall ;iee our nation liee. 
Or set upon oui gravts." 



l\ 



H 285 79 




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